SURFING LAGUNA: Laguna loses by a nose to Dana Hills

Members of the Laguna Beach High School Surf Team were greeted with sunny skies and clean 3- to 4-foot waves at Salt Creek as they prepared to battle local rival Dana Hills in South Coast League action.

The team members were excited to get things going and Laguna Jumped out to a strong lead in the first round. Leading the charge in the Boys Shortboard division was Laguna’s Dashel Pierson-Plesa. Dashel nabbed a long left-hander that allowed him several big maneuvers and a huge floater right in front of the judges. Dashel went on to take first place in the six-person heat.

Other Laguna standouts in the Shortboard Division included Eli Visolay and Porter Hogan. Eli was very active in his heat and won by linking together long fluid rides with huge hits, hacks and cutbacks. Porter surfed with his trademark flair and uncanny ability to make the most of whatever wave he paddles into. His high-energy attack brought Laguna another Shortboard heat victory. Laguna’s Henry Ward surfed hard and narrowly missed victory with a solid second-place finish.

Leading the Girls Shortboard Division was the newly crowned Champ of the South Coast League, Taylor Pitz. Taylor’s surfing has been consistent all year long, and surfing Salt Creek in clean conditions gave her an opportunity to shine in front of her friends and family. Taylor capitalized on several good waves and the judges rewarded her efforts with first place in her heat. Taylor also jumped on a longboard and managed to lead the girls to a victory in the Girls Longboard Division. Hannah Fait and Brenda Joseph ripped their way to third and fourth places, respectively.

When it was all said and done, the Dana Hills Team beat Laguna by a single point to claim local bragging rights, but the kids seemed OK with it as they smiled and paddled out for a few more waves before heading to school.

CHRIS WILLIAMS is the father of four surf-crazy sons, a surfing coach and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at chris@soulsurfingschool.com or (949) 497-5918.